Accusation of influencing referees: FC Barcelona suspected of corruption

FC Barcelona is suspected of influencing referees. Between the years 2016 and 2018, the club is said to have paid around 1.4 million euros for alleged advisory services to the then Vice of the Referee Committee.

José María Enríquez Negreira is undoubtedly a professional: he was a referee in La Liga for 15 years, then vice-president of the Referees Committee for almost 25 years. But half a million euros a year for information on how strict referees are, when they draw cards and how dangerous player protests are? A lot of money for an extremely indebted club – and that’s exactly why Barca ended the cooperation after three years in 2018, according to club president Joan Laporta. “I say to the fans: It’s no coincidence that the subject is in the media right now, when things are going well for us again. We will do everything we can to protect the club’s reputation.”

Investigations have been going on for months

In fact, the investigations of the public prosecutor’s office into suspected corruption have been going on for months and Barca is in a good sporting position: in the league, the Catalans are eight points ahead of Real Madrid in first place in the table, recently they won the Spanish Supercup.

Over three years money to then high referee functionary

So what is the suspicion about? FC Barcelona paid around 1.5 million euros over three years to a company owned by the then Vice-President of the Referee Committee, Enríquez Negreira. For consulting services, it says so in documents. Of course you analyze the referees before the games, says coach Xavi Hernandez: “I’m concentrating on football and it was all before my time, but the club does something like that and I stand behind it.”

All major clubs have referees observed and advised, says club president Joan Laporta. However, the Referees Committee has issued a written statement stating: “It deplores conduct that may breach the ethics of the panel”. Because: the committee is also responsible for appointing referees, which could definitely have an impact on the outcome of a game. However, when asked by Cadena Ser radio station, José María Enríquez Negreira denied having influenced referee appointments.